NDLEA seizes 7.6m tramadol pills, 76,273kg cannabis in nationwide crackdown

One of the suspects and exhibits. Photo: NDLEA

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has seized over 7.6 million tramadol pills and more than 76,000 kilograms of cannabis, including Colorado, Loud, and Skunk, in intelligence-led operations across Nigeria.

The agency also disclosed that several suspects linked to the drug trafficking networks behind the consignments have been arrested.

According to a statement released on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, 3,874,000 tramadol pills (225mg and 100mg) and 252.2 litres of codeine syrup were recovered on December 6 from a warehouse at Oko Market, Asaba, Delta State.

He added that 1.2 million tramadol 225mg tablets were intercepted on December 3 from a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Kelechi Nwakocha along the Onitsha–Owerri Road in Imo State.

Among the total opioids seized, 3,874,000 tramadol pills (225mg and 100mg) and 252.2 litres of codeine syrup were recovered on December 6 from a warehouse at Oko Market, Asaba, Delta State.

Additionally, the statement noted that 1.2 million tramadol 225mg tablets were intercepted on December 3 from a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Kelechi Nwakocha along Onitsha–Owerri Road in Imo State.

The consignment, the statement disclosed, had been loaded in Aba, Abia State, and was headed to Onitsha, Anambra State.

In Adamawa State, Babafemi stated that on December 1, operatives intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus along the Maraba–Mubi route with 1,577,112 capsules of tramadol and Exol-5 tablets concealed in jumbo bags, which were mixed with sandals and slippers.

He added that two suspects, Kabiru Buba, 25, and Hamza Abubakar, 32, were arrested, noting that another suspect, Mudansir Rabiu, 27, was arrested along the Zaria–Kano Road with 197,000 pills of Exol-5.

In Ekiti State, he said operatives destroyed 14,654kg of skunk in forests in Omuo-Ekiti, arresting two suspects, Yusuf Iliyasu, 50, and Okumu Chinedu, 26.

“In another operation, the operatives on Tuesday, December 2, stormed the forests in Asin-Ekiti, Ikole LGA, Ekiti state, where they destroyed 54,300kg of skunk in two large warehouses that were razed, while 28.3kg of the same psychoactive substance was recovered for prosecution.

“Following actionable intelligence, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, 2nd December, raided Igoba forest in Akure North LGA, Ondo State, where a total of 2,483 compressed blocks of skunk and 247 bags of the same substance, all weighing 5,442 kilograms, were recovered and five suspects arrested,” the statement added.

Also on December 2, he said operatives raided Igoba Forest in Akure North LGA, Ondo State, recovering 2,483 compressed blocks and 247 bags of skunk weighing 5,442kg.

Babafemi added that five suspects, Jacob Omodowo, 66; Joy Oluatobi Peace, 24; Babatunde Olamide, 40; Echi Fidelis Joseph, 57; and Ankrah Akano, 56, were arrested.

In Edo State, he said 447.5kg of skunk was recovered from two Honda Accord cars in Agho Forest, Akoko Edo LGA, and one suspect, Dada Adedara Babawibi, 56, was arrested, adding that another 315.8kg was seized during a raid on a warehouse in Isiefve community, Ohuwunde LGA, where a suspect, Stanley Obasuwa, was arrested.

A similar large seizure of tramadol was reported by PUNCH Metro on November 16, when the NDLEA intercepted 396,000 capsules at Aliyu Mustapha International Airport, Yola.

The seizures came after the agency recovered over 171,000 tramadol capsules during separate operations in Niger, Benue, and Taraba states.

The PUNCH journalist, Solomon, has five years experience covering crime, judiciary and defence beats.

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